Sparty Letdown.

[Van]

Mgo picked MSU in Pick 'Em, and he assured me that Sparty would roll Nebraska. How does Sparty getting their heads handed to them make him right?

Two obvious points here...

1. Sparty is to big road games as the OWS crowd is to soap and/or gainful employment.

2. This is my Boise St contention illustrated to a fine point. Sparty had a game @ South Bend, which would've represented Boise St's Super Bowl. They also had this four-game stretch: @ Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin, @ Nebraska. That's a surefire recipe for a loss or two, something Boise never risks.

[WolverineSteve]

Sparty's schedule was a midwest meat grinder . I was amazed that they got the first three of these four games. Wisky is the class of the league in a down year, but they stepped on their dicks.

[Danimal]

We match-up better with Sparty than Wiscy. Mobile qb's give us problems. Cousins is up our alley. Our coverage is finally coming together and we threw some new wrinkles in on our pass-rush. MSU wasn't going to beat us through the air. They were running respectably, they should've been more persistant with it.

MSU did have too many tough opponents in a row, that helped, but with the D gelling and the O cutting-back on the goofs that plagued us before I feel like we're turning a corner.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Mgo picked MSU in Pick 'Em, and he assured me that Sparty would roll Nebraska.

You must be referring to chat the other night. I didn't say MSU would "roll" Nebraska. I said I thought they had NU "outclassed" but I feared the letdown.

Props to the Huskers. They came to play and MSU did not. Very good defensive performance by NU as well, especially their DB play. MSU receivers could not get open all day.

Things get interesting now. I still think MSU wins the "Legends" division because the back end of their schedule is quite manageable. Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern. That Iowa game is very losable, though, with the way this team is playing on the road.

[Moby Dick]

Mgo picked MSU in Pick 'Em,

what a loser!

[bradhusker]

Sparty's schedule was a midwest meat grinder . I was amazed that they got the first three of these four games. Wisky is the class of the league in a down year, but they stepped on their dicks.

"wisky is the class of the league"?? what are you smoking dufuss??

Nebraska is only getting better on defense, our secondary is now playing "lights out".
Had our secondary played like this against wisconsin a few weeks ago, we'd be undefeated.

Wisconsin now has two losses, they arent the classs of the big ten, they are the "pussies"

AGAIN, wisconsin beat us because our defensive backs couldnt cover shit in that game.
NOW? I am licking my ball sack at a chance to fuck those wiscy pussies for a re-match.

[bradhusker]

Mgo picked MSU in Pick 'Em, and he assured me that Sparty would roll Nebraska. How does Sparty getting their heads handed to them make him right?

Two obvious points here...

1. Sparty is to big road games as the OWS crowd is to soap and/or gainful employment.

2. This is my Boise St contention illustrated to a fine point. Sparty had a game @ South Bend, which would've represented Boise St's Super Bowl. They also had this four-game stretch: @ Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin, @ Nebraska. That's a surefire recipe for a loss or two, something Boise never risks.

Thanks van for pointing this fact out. Boise st is a fuckin JOKE, and the way nebraska's secondary is coming together, I am licking my fuckin chops at a possible bowl matchup with those b oise st faggotts.
Coaching is a wonderful thing, and our secondary which played like shit against wisconsin, completely shut down the spartans.
If nebraska's defense continues to improve, WATCH OUT, the big ten is ours for the taking.

[Carson]

I am licking my ball sack

Umm.

Uhh.

Err....

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Ok, so here are the remaining schedules for the 1-loss teams in the "Legends" division (I'm sorry, but I just can't type that stupid word without the quotes):

Nebraska
Northwestern
@ Penn State
@ Michigan
Iowa

Michigan
@ Iowa
@ Illinois
Nebraska
Ohio State

Michigan State
Minnesota
@ Iowa
Indiana
@ Northwestern

While NU controls their own destiny, MSU clearly has the easiest path at this point. Road games at PSU and Michigan won't be easy for the Corn.

[bradhusker]

Ok, so here are the remaining schedules for the 1-loss teams in the "Legends" division (I'm sorry, but I just can't type that stupid word without the quotes):

Nebraska
Northwestern
@ Penn State
@ Michigan
Iowa

Michigan
@ Iowa
@ Illinois
Nebraska
Ohio State

Michigan State
Minnesota
@ Iowa
Indiana
@ Northwestern

While NU controls their own destiny, MSU clearly has the easiest path at this point. Road games at PSU and Michigan won't be easy for the Corn.

OK, I might be inclined to agree with you about road games at happy valley and the big house, HOWEVER, from what ive seen of penn st this year, If our defense plays like I think they will play?
Neb 31 psu 10

The big house? OK, your QB is dangerous, its a road game, SO, here is the way I see it.
Michigans defense is soft, so, if they cant stop the run, burkhead will run it down their throat, so will martinez.
If they put 8 in the box, and dare T money to throw it? He just might.
To me, if our defense continues to improve, THATS THE KEY for us, road games or not, its all about big time defense.
Ur right, the spartans remaining sched is soft.
I like the big ten. Im glad we made the move. Nebraska makes the big ten ALL IT CAN BE.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

We'll see. I think people underestimate how big of a deal home field advantage is in college football.

[Van]

We don't.

Sin,

[Cornhusker]

Ok, so here are the remaining schedules for the 1-loss teams in the "Legends" division (I'm sorry, but I just can't type that stupid word without the quotes):

Nebraska
Northwestern
@ Penn State
@ Michigan
Iowa

Michigan
@ Iowa
@ Illinois
Nebraska
Ohio State

Michigan State
Minnesota
@ Iowa
Indiana
@ Northwestern

While NU controls their own destiny, MSU clearly has the easiest path at this point. Road games at PSU and Michigan won't be easy for the Corn.

Very true...

If Nebraska goes 3-1, I think they will win the division. Iowa is Nebraska's best friend playing at home against MSU and the Ganders. They'll find a way to win one of those if not both. It's what they do. Also MSU going to Northwestern for senior day (Persia's last game) will be interesting. Michigan could lose to either Neb, OSU, or @ Illinois, so I think they have at least another loss there somewhere.

I don't expect Northwestern to win in Lincoln, I was very glad that game was here this year, it has danger written all over it in Evansville for anyone, given the offense being what it is. They can win a shoot-out. And if Iowa comes here for the finally and wins ....... I just don't think that will happen.

Nebraska at Michigan is a huge game as far a head to head is concerned.

Bottom line, I think NU can lose one more, and still win the division just because I don't see Michigan winning the final 4. I don't think anyone really is good enough to win out and NU has the head to head verses MSU. Nebraska needs to win its home games (manageable) and get one more roadie (toughie,... if Michigan, done deal.)
The big question is will anyone see Michigan State play away from home the way they played in Lincoln? Iowa would beat that team in Iowa City I believe, remember, they were holding on against Wisconsin and the football god's were smiling on them to be sure. I wonder about MSU's depth and conditioning after seeing them play Saturday and against Wisconsin the second half. Iowa could exploit them at home.

Lotta could'ves I know, but seeing how stuff plays out in the B1G, anything can and will happen.

Here's the deal, as long a Pelini has been here, NU has played it's best in November and showed increasing improvement through-out the month. Especially defensively. He's had teams finish well with the exception of winning conference games they were heavy dogs in (Texas-OU), but kept close non-the-less. Saturday was Nebraska's most complete game, looks similar to what we've seen at this point each year.
.....it's going to be fun down the stretch.

OK, I hope Iowa wins them all except the last one...(I need a shower now)

[Mace]

Iowa has yet to win a road game and their next chance is in three weeks at Purdue. I'm sure that Sparty remembers all too well how Iowa kicked the living shit out of them in Iowa City last season....but that was a different Iowa team with a much better defense....and I would expect MSU to show up at Kinnick with that loss in mind and doing whatever they can to avoid a repeat. If, and that's a very big IF, Iowa can manage to knock off Michigan next week in Iowa City, I would expect them to give MSU a game. If not, they may fold their tents and play like Christmas break started in early November.

The only way that Iowa gives the Huskers a game in Lincoln is if they win their next three games and head to Huskerland on a roll. The odds of that appear to be slim after watching their pitiful/putrid/pathetic performance in Minneapolis yesterday. I'm hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.

[bradhusker]

as far as Im concerned, we will fuck Iowa in the mouth. and in the process, knock out there teeth as well.
Nebraska should've joined the big ten in 1996. Its becomming obvious to everyone that Nebraska is a big ten school, a blue collar smashmouth power football kinda school.
The big 12 was fun, BUT, the big ten is THE conf. now that we have joined the party. Its the most perfect fit as far as I am concerned, its a marriage made in heaven. I have never seen a team so perfectly suited and perfectly matched for big ten play, as nebraska is. Like I said, should've happened 15 years ago.

[Mace]

We'll see how they do on the road at Penn State and Michigan, brad.

[bradhusker]

We'll see how they do on the road at Penn State and Michigan, brad.

True, those are indeed two very hostile places to visit. Not to mention 110,000 fans? at both?
scary, noisy, a real back to back welcome to the big ten.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I think it'll be MSU/PSU in Indy. The final score will be 6-3.

[Mace]

I think it'll be MSU/PSU in Indy. The final score will be 6-3.

Oh, predicting an overtime in the first conference championship game? How exciting.

[Van]

I think it'll be MSU/PSU in Indy. The final score will be 6-3.

Oh, predicting an overtime in the first conference championship game? How exciting.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I think it'll be MSU/PSU in Indy. The final score will be 6-3.

Oh, predicting an overtime in the first conference championship game? How exciting.

And those who picked the OVER will rejoice.

[M Club]

with state's schedule, michigan's only reasonable chance is to go 3-1, hope northwestern can finally stop shitting the last few minutes away against state, and hoping for some bizarre three-way tiebreaker between two-loss teams. head-to-head is so fucking huge in the big ten considering just about every year before has ended in three-way tie for first as well as a five-way tie for second.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

with state's schedule, michigan's only reasonable chance is to go 3-1, hope northwestern can finally stop shitting the last few minutes away against state, and hoping for some bizarre three-way tiebreaker between two-loss teams. head-to-head is so fucking huge in the big ten considering just about every year before has ended in three-way tie for first as well as a five-way tie for second.

Jesus. Even with split divisions and a cash grab game, it still isn't going to create any real separation between the 1st and 8th best team.